Adjustable spindle arm for cartridge-loading motion picture projector

ABSTRACT

A motion picture projector provided with means for supporting film supply cartridges of different sizes with the rotational axes of their film supply reels at respective different predetermined positions includes a supply reel support spindle carried by an arm which is angularly adjustable about an axis parallel to the spindle to selectively position the spindle at different ones of such predetermined positions of the reel axis. Preferably, the spindle may be positioned at locations which do not necessarily lie on an arc of a circle thereby allowing for interchangeable cartridges containing reels whose axes do not define the arc of a circle in their respective positions on the projector.

United States Patent Primary Examiner-Leonard D. ChristianAttorneys-Robert W. Hampton and J. Addison Mathews ABSTRACT: A motionpicture projector provided with means for supporting film supplycartridges of different sizes with the rotational axes of their filmsupply reels at respective difierent predetermined positions includes asupply reel support spindle carried by an arm which is angularly'adjustable about an axis parallel to the spindle to selectively positionthe spindle at different ones of such predetermined positions of thereel axis. Preferably, the spindle may be positioned at locations whichdo not necessarily lie on an arc of a circle thereby allowing forinterchangeable cartridges containing reels whose axes do not define thearc of a circle in their respective positions on the projector.

WWI Q PATENTEU SEP 7197! SHEET 1 0F 4 JOHN J. BUNDSCHUH INVENTOR.

BY find) 254M 12 ATTORNEYS JOHN J. BUNDSCHUH INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS PATENTED SEP HS?! SHEET 3 BF 4 FIG. 4

JOHN J. BUNDSCHUH INVENTUR. BY W WMQM ATTORNEYS PATENTED SEP 7 Ian SHEET'4 OF 4 FIG. 9

JOHN J. BUNDSCHUH INVENTOR. BY W ATTORNEYS ADJUSTABLE SPINDLI'I ARM FORCARTRIDGE- LUADING MOTION PICTURE PROJECTOR REFERENCE 'I'O RELA'I'EDAPPLICATIONS Reference is made to commonly assigned copending US. Pat.applications Ser. No. 692,8l entitled Cartridge and Reel SupportingMeans for Cartridge-Loading Motion Picture Projector, filed in the nameof Robert J. Roman on Dec. 22, 1967', abandoned in favor of Ser. No.777,28l which is a continuation-in-part thereof, Ser. No. 470,499entitled "Automatic Film Stripper, filed in the name of Edward S. McKeeon July 8, I965 and now abandoned; Ser. No. 643,503 entitled Cartridgefor Reel of Strip Material," filed in the names of John J. Bundschuh andKenneth W. Thompson on June 5, I967; Ser. No. 736,524 entitledCartridge," filed in the name of John J. Bundschuh on Nov. 24, I967;Ser. No. 685,6]6 en titled Cinematographic Projectors or the Like andCartridges for Use Therewith, filed in the names of John J. Bundschuh etal. on Nov. 24, I967; and Ser. No. 73l,562 entitled "Car tridge andMeans For Locating a Cartridge on a Projector or the Like, filed in thename of John J. Bundschuh on May 23, I968.

BACKGROU ND OF THE INVENTION I. Field of the Invention The presentinvention relates to self-threading cartridgeloaded motion pictureprojectors and related equipment and more particularly to such equipmentadapted to accommodate film cartridges of different film capacities.

2. Description of the Prior Art To simplify the use of motion pictureprojectors or the like, considerable attention has been directed towardproviding means whereby such an apparatus can be loaded with a cartridgecontaining a film reel from which the film automatically can be removed,threaded, projected, and then rewound into the cartridge.

A representative example of such a cartridge-loading projector system isdisclosed in commonly assigned copending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No685,6l6, entitled Cinematographic Projectors or the Like and Cartridgesfor Use Therewith," filed in the names of John J. Bundschuh et al. onNov. 24, I967. In the system disclosed in that application, a film reelis positioned within a cartridge having an opening adapted to receive aspindle which rotatably supports and drives the reel within thecartridge. With the cartridge positioned on the projector, the film rollis radially accessible to a stripping mechanism movable into temporaryoperative rela tionship with the film roll on the reel through anothercartridge opening; such mechanism being adapted to separate the leadingend of the film from the roll and to feed it along or toward apredetermined threading path. Upon completion of the projection cycle, arewind mechanism initiates a rewind cycle, whereupon the gate is opened,the pulldown claw is retracted, and the film is rapidly rewound onto thesupply reel. Further details and features of the aforementioned filmstripping and threading mechanism and of film supply car tridges adaptedfor use therewith are disclosed in related US. patent application Ser.No. 643,502 entitled Cinematographic Cartridge Projector Apparatus,"filed in the names of John J. Bundschuh et al. on June 5, I967; US.patent application Ser. No. 470,499 entitled Automatic Film Stripper,"filed in the name of Edward S. McKee on July 8, 1965; US. patentapplication Ser. No. 643,503 entitled "Cartridge for Reel of StripMaterial," filed in the name of John J. Bundschuh et al. on June 5,I967; and US. patent application Ser. No. 736,524 entitled "Cartridge,"filed in the name of John J. Bundschuh on Nov. 24, I967.

In order that film supply reels of different capacities can be loadedonto the subject type of projector, similar film supply cartridges ofdifferent sizes can be provided with substantially identical locatingand supporting surfaces as disclosed in commonly assigned US Pat.application Ser. No. 731,562 entitled "Cartridge and Means for l ocatmga ('airtridge on n l'nnetioi or the Like," filed in the name ol'John J.Ilundsclmh on May 23. IJhllv To enable the stripping nml threadingmechanism to per form properly notwithstanding the substantialdil'lcrcnce in diameters of the film rolls housed in such cartridges,the local ing and supporting surfaces of the cartridges are adapted tocooperate with mating means on the projector to position the respectivesupply reels within the different sized cartridges at predeterminednoncoaxial locations. Accordingly, means must be provided for locatingthe reel spindle, which rotatably supports the supply reel in acartridge, at such different locations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, acartridge loaded motion picture projector is provided with a supply reelspindle carried on a support arm. The projector is adapted to beinterchangeably loaded with film reels ofdiffercnt capacity contained incartridges of corresponding capacity, and the support arm is pivotallymounted on the projector for adjust ment to a selected one of aplurality of positions in coaxial alignment with the selected size ofreel and cartridge on the projector. Preferably, locating and retainingmeans are pro vided to accurately position and hold the pivotal arm inits selected position, thereby eliminating further spindle adjustment aslong as cartridges of that same capacity are employed. Additionally, theinvention contemplates positioning of the spindle at locations which donot necessarily lie on an arc of a circle thereby allowing forinterchangeable cartridges containing reels whose axes do not define thearc of a circle in their respective positions on the projector.

Various means for practicing the invention and other advantages andnovel features thereof will be apparent from the following detaileddescription of an illustrative preferred embodiment of the invention,reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which likereference numerals refer to like elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a self-threading cartridgedoadedmotion picture projector in accordance with the present inventionillustrating different sizes of cartridges loaded on the projector inrespective predetermined positions on the projector;

FIG. 2 is a perspective illustration of the film cartridge shown insolid lines in FIG. I and of the portion of the projector whichselectively cooperates with the different sizes of cartridges to locateand support the cartridges in the respective predetermined positionsshown in FIGS. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic elevational view of a portion of the subjectprojector, depicting the relative operative locations the axes of filmsupply reels contained in the cartridges shown in FIG. I and furtherdepicting the manner in which a film stripping and threading mechanismcooperates with the film rolls carried by such reels;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the inventioncomprising a spindle support mechanism which is adjustable manually tolocate the supply reel spindle at the dif ferent positions of the reelaxes illustrated in FIG. 3-,

FIG. 5 is a crosssectional elevational view of the structure depicted inFIG. 5, taken along line 6-6 of that figure; and

FIG. 6 is a view corresponding generally to FIG. 5 but dc picting asimpler embodiment of the invention by which the film supply reelspindle is adjustable to different positions lying along an are centeredat the pivot axis ofthe spindle support arm;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of a third embodiment of the inventionwherein the spindle support mechanism includes a movable pivot pointpermitting location of the spindle at dif' ferent positions on asubstantially straight line and further il lustrating ball and detentmeans for holding the spindle at a selected one ofits positions;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 7. FIG. 9 is anelevational view of a fourth embodiment of the invention similar to theembodiment depicted in FIG. 7 but having a pin and notch means forholding the spindle at a selected one of its positions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The illustrativeprojector depicted in FIG. I of the accompanying drawings is of thegeneral type disclosed in the aboveidentificd U.S. Pat. application Ser.No. 685,616 and will be seen to comprise a generally rectangular casingll, including a housing 12 which extends laterally toward the right sideofthe projector and supports a forwardly facing projection lens assembly13. Above housing 12, a rotatable film takeup reel spindle or shaft 14extends beyond vertical wall member 15 and is adapted to receive any ofseveral different diameter film takeup reels. The smallest of such reelsis shown in solid lines at [6, with the peripheries of two progressivelylarger reels being indicated in broken lines at numerals 16a and 16b.

Forwardly of takeup reel spindle [4, a similar supply reel spindle l7likewise extends beyond wall member 15 to support and impart rotationalmovement to a film supply reel 18 housed within a film supply cartridge19 loaded onto the projector. As in the case of the film takeup reels, asmall capacity film cartridge 19 is shown loaded onto the projector insolid lines, with the outlines of two similar but progressively largercartridges being shown respectively in broken lines at 19a and 19b inthe loaded positions assumed by those cartridges. The film supply reelswithin the different sized cartridges 19, 19a and 19b are ofcorresponding different diameters and therefore accommodate film supplyrolls 21, 21a and 21b of progressively larger maximum diameters, asshown in FIG. 3.

In accordance with the disclosures of copending US. Pat. applicationsSer. No. 685,6l 6 and 73 l ,562, all of the film cartridges are providedwith similar locating ribs 22, as illustrated on cartridge 19 in FIG. 2.These ribs are adapted to be received in mating positioning slots 23defined by wall member l5 of the projector. Additionally, latch openings24 are similarly located with reference to the locating ribs of each ofthe cartridges and are adapted to be engaged by releasable latch members25 extending through openings 26 in the projector wall member 15,whereby a cartridge installed on the projector is releasably held in itsoperative position.

By reference to FIGS. 1 and 4, it will be apparent that the cooperationbetween the locating ribs on the different sized cartridges and themating positioning slots on the projector positions the three differentsized cartridges with their respective reel hub axes at predetermineddifferent locations. As will be described later in detail, supply reelspindle 17 is adapted to be adjusted to these same predetermineddifferent locations to rotatably support the film supply reel ofwhichever car tridge is mounted on the projector.

When cartridge 19 is latched in place on the projector, its slotted baseportion 27 (FIG. 2) is aligned with slot 28 in the projector housing andwith a stripping and threading mechanism comprising a stripper finger 29and a stripper belt member 3L To initiate the film stripping andthreading operation, the stripper finger moves from its inoperativeposition shown in broken lines at 29c in FIG. 3 to its operativeposition shown in solid lines in that figure, thereby locating the tipof the finger in engagement with the outermost convolution of the filmsupply roll 2] wound onto the reel. Concurrently, stripper belt member31 rotates in a counterclockwise direction about support shaft 32 fromits inoperative position shown in broken lines at 31c to its operativeposition shown in solid lines, thus engaging its peripheral stripperbelt 33 with the outermost roll convolution. As a part of the same operation, an appropriate clutch mechanism is adjusted so that supply reelspindle 17 can rotate in an unwinding direction.

The stripper belt is constantly driven in a counterclockwise directionand therefore rotates the film roll in an unwinding clockwise direction.Accordingly, the leading end of the film is separated from the roll bythe stripper finger and is delivered out of the cartridge into a narrowguide path defined between a portion of the stripper belt and theadjacent edge of the stripper finger.

By reference to FIG. 3, it will be seen that the disposition of thethree reel axes allows the stripper belt member to pivot about shaft 32into contact with the periphery of any of the corresponding film supplyrolls 21, 210 or 2th by assuming the respective positions of the beltmember shown at 3|, Ma and 3"). Similarly, by means of a support linkageof the general type described in US. Pat. application Ser. No. 685,616the stripper finger is also movable to different operative positionsindicated at 29, 29a and 29b so that it can cooperate with therespective film rolls 2], 2Ia and 21b and thereby deliver the leadingend of the film out of the cartridge, as previously described,regardless which size cartridge is loaded onto the machine.

As the leading end of the film emerges beyond the path defined betweenthe stripper belt and stripper finger, it enters the open end of a guidechannel shown at 34 in FIG. 3 and is thereby directed through a filmprojection gate and into engagement with an appropriate pulldown claw orequivalent film advancing mechanism. Beyond the film gate the leadingend of the film passes along another guide channel leading into apivotally supported threading arm 35 (FIG. 1) by which it is conductedinto selfattaching engagement with the hub of the film takeup reelmounted on spindle 14. When the film threading operation has beencompleted, the stripper finger and stripper belt member are returned totheir respective inoperative positions shown respectively in brokenlines at 29c and 31c in FIG. 3, whereupon the film is projected as itunwinds from the cartridge and winds onto the film takeup reel. Thetrailing end of the film is attached to the film supply reel hub, andtherefore is drawn taut when all of the available film has beendisplayed. This occurrence initiates a rewinding operation by openingthe film gate, disabling the film pulldown mechanism and impartingcounterclockwise rewinding rotation to the film supply reel spindle l7as the film takeup reel spindle I4 is allowed to rotate freely. Thus,the film is rewound entirely into the cartridge, whereupon the rewoundcartridge can be removed from the projector. Further details of variousmechanisms for performing the foregoing opera tions are disclosed in thepreviously cited U.S. Pat. applications, but are not required forpurposes of understanding the present invention.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the spindle support structure by means of whichthe film supply reel spindle is adjustable manually to support the threedifferent sized film supply reels at the respective positions shown inFIG. 3. In accordance with this preferred embodiment of the invention,the supply reel spindle l7 comprises a chuck member 35 attached to theend of a horizontal spindle shaft 36 which is rotatably jour naled inbushing members 37 and 38 supported by spindle support member 39. Thespindle support member, in turn. is pivotally carried by shaft 41extending between parallel sideplates 42 and 43 of support arm 44. Thesetwo sideplates are maintained in rigid parallel relation to each otherby top web member 45 integral therewith and by a stiffening shaft 46riveted between the two plates. A countershaft 47 extends betweenbushings 48 and 49 in the sideplates at the end of the arm memberopposite the reel spindle and is rotatably supported in stationaryjournal blocks 51. Adjusting lever 52. which is formed integrally withsideplate 43 of the support arm. extends forwardly through slot 53 inthe vertical front wall member 54 of housing 12 and thereby providesmeans for manually rotating the support arm about countershaft 47 todifferent angular positions.

A pulley 57 is affixed to spindle shaft 36 adjacent the inner end ofbushing member 38 and is connected by drivebelt S6 to a similar pulley55 mounted on rotatable countershaft 47.

Beyond bushing member 38, a flanged cam follower roller 58 is rotatablysupported on the spindle shaft. A retaining collar 59 is attached to theend of spindle shaft 36 beyond cam follower roller 58, therebymaintaining the latter in its depicted position adjacent bushing member38. Since collar member 59 and pulley 57 are axially immovable relativeto the spindle shaft, the reel chuck member remains at all times in itsdepicted position, in which it extends through slot 61 in wall member bya sufficient distance to support the reel within a cartridge loaded ontothe projector. A pulley 62 attached to countershaft 47 is driven by anappropriate motor, not shown, thereby causing the supply reel spindle 17to be rotated by belt 56. As previously mentioned, clutch means or thelike, not shown, are also incorporated in this spindle drive system toeffect different modes of rotation of the supply reel spindle duringdifferent phases of operation of the projector.

A vertical cam plate 63 is immovably supported in alignment with camfollower roller 58 by screws 63 threaded into stationary mounting studs65. Along its front edge, this cam plate defines a cam surface 66including three arcuate detent indentations 67, 67a and 67b inrespective coaxial alignment with the required three positions of thesupply reel spindle. The hub 68 of the cam follower roller is of thesame radius as the detent indentations and is engaged with cam surface66, which is straddled by the roller flanges 69. Drivebelt 56 is made ofrubber or a similar elastic material and therefore resiliently biasesthe cam follower roller against the cam surface, supplemented ifnecessary by a coil spring 71 stretched between the spindle supportmember and the support arm. Accordingly, when lever 52 is moved to theposition shown in solid lines in FIG. 5, the supply reel chuck member 35is maintained in the proper position to receive the hub of a reelprovided in the smallest of the three film cartridges. Upon movement oflever 52 upwardly to its intermediate position shown in broken lines at520, cam follower roller 58 rides out of detent indentation 67 bystretching belt 56 and spring 71 and drops into detent indentation 67ato locate the supply reel chuck at the proper position to receive thereel hub of a middle-sized cartridge 190, as shown at 35a in FIG. 3 andby reference to spindle shaft 36a in FIG. 5. Similarly, further upwardmovement of the lever to the position shown in broken lines at 52blocates the cam follower roller in the uppermost detent indentation 67b,thereby positioning the spindle shaft and the reel chuck member as shownat 35!: and 36b so that the chuck member can receive and support hub ofamaximum sized cartridge 19b. From the foregoing, therefore, it will beapparent that chuck member 35 can be adjusted selectively to any of itsthree predetermined operative positions by manual movement of lever 52.

By reference to broken line 72 in FIG. 5, which illustrates the arcuatemovement path of shaft 41 about the axis of countershaft 47, it will beseen that the three operative positions of the chuck member are notdisposed along an are defined by the pivot axis of the support arm. Forexample, depending on the configuration of surface 66, the operativepositions may be disposed on straight line 73. However, if the mode ofconstruction of a particular projector does make it practicable tolocate the axes of the different cartridge reel hubs along an arecentered at the pivot axis of a pivotally mounted spindle support arm, asomewhat simpler embodiment of the invention can be employed asillustrated in FIG. 6. In such a construction spindle 17 is journaleddirectly to support arm 76, which is generally similar to the previouslydescribed support arm 44. Accordingly, the spindle remains in fixedparallel relation to the pivot axis of the support arm defined bycountershaft 47 so that the different positions of the spindle arelocated along the are represented by broken line 77, at equal radii fromthe pivot axis of the arm. Since the cam follower roller and the camplate associated therewith are not required to adjust the spindle, theycan be eliminated and replaced by other appropriate detent means, notshown, to establish predetermined detent positions of the adjustinglever 78 attached to the support arm. However, it will be apparent thata. spindle support structure of the type illustrated in FIGS. 4 and Swill be preferable in many instances due to the greater design flexibility afforded by avoiding the necessity of locating the dif fercntspindle positions along the same are defined hy the su port arm pivotaxis.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and B, a third embodiment of the invention isdisclosed including additional or further means for effecting movementof the spindle between three operative positions not necessarily on thearc ofa circle. Elements illus trated on FIGS. 7 and 8 which are thesame as elements of FIGS. 4 and 5 have been given similar referencenumerals preceded by l0" Other elements have been given new referencenumerals.

In this embodiment, the spindle support arm is provided at one end 102with an adjustable pivot means 104 comprising an elongated slot 106 inthe end 102 and a pivot member or shaft 108 supported on the projectorhousing or support wall 109. Shaft 108 is mounted on the projector forrotation relative to the housing to drive spindle 136 in a mannerpreviously described in connection with the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 4 and 5. However, the shaft is not movable in lateral directionsrelative to the housing and thereby acts as a locat ing member aboutwhich the arm 100 can pivot as well as move longitudinally relative toelongated slot 106.

Operative positions of the spindle (in this case 3) are determined by aspindle locating means 110 comprising a sleeve 114 rotatably carried bya projection or stud 112 fixed to and extending downwardly from arm I00,and cam surfaces defined by a slot or recess 116 in a support wall 109of the pro jector. The cam surface or slot 116 may have any number ofshapes and configurations to guide the arm along a desired pathincluding but not limited to the arc ofa circle. For example, asillustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the guide slot 116 defines a linear pathor straight line and is adapted to guide the spindle 136 betweendifferent positions lying along a linear path or straight line parallelto guide slot 116. Moreover, the projector may be provided withinterchangeable plates 117 containing different guide slots 116 wherebythe path defined by movement of spindle 136 can be varied as desired byinterchanging such plates.

For holding the adjustable arm 100 at a selected one of its differentangular positions, ball and detent means 118 are provided including inthe embodiment illustrated three angularly spaced detents or recesses120, 122, and 124 in support wall 109 and a ball 126 on arm 100. Theball is resiliently urged by leaf spring 128 to extend through anOpening 30 in arm 100, but is prevented from passing entirely throughthe arm by the width of opening 30 which is less than the diameter ofthe ball 126. The width of the slot, however, is sufficient to permitengagement between the portion of the ball extending through the slotand wall 109 or a selected one of the detents in the wall. The detentsl24 have inclined surfaces adjacent their edges and the ball can move upthese inclined edges against the resilient force exerted by spring 128to permit pivotal movement of arm 100 between the positions defined bydetents 120, 122 and 124. When the arm is moved until it is again in aposition corresponding to one of the detents, the ball will drop intothe respective detent under the action of spring 128 and will hold orlocate the arm at the detent until additional force is applied to thearm sufficient to again move the ball up the incline and out of therespective detent.

In operation, the spindle can be moved to and between its selectedpositions by adjusting lever 152. As the lever is moved upwardly the armis guided along a straight line by stud 112 and sleeve 114 moving inslot 116. As the spindle moves in such straight line, arm 100 will pivoton shaft 108 and will also move longitudinally on the shaft to accountfor the greater distance between the spindle 136 and shaft 108. Uponreaching its uppermost position, shown in dotted lines in FIG. 7, ball126 will fall into detent 124 to accurately hold or locate the arm andspindle in the upper position. In a similar manner, the spindle can bemoved to various other positions, such as a lower position correspondingto detent 120.

Referring now to FIG. 9, still another embodiment of the invention hasbeen illustrated which is similar in many respects to the embodimentillustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 and which has been provided with referencenumerals in a series between 200 and 300 corresponding where there arecorresponding parts to the numerals in FIGS. 7 and 8 between 100 and200, in this embodiment, however, the spindle is located and held at aselected one of its operative positions by a stud carried in a notchedslot instead of the ball and detent illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. Inthis embodiment the arm 200 includes a sleeve 2l4 rotatably held on astud 2l2 fixed to arm 200 and extending downwardly into a cam means inthe form of a slot or guide 216. Slot 216 includes in one wall thereofthree recesses or notches 218, 220. and 222 having widths or diametersslightly larger than sleeve 219 such that the sleeve can freely moveinto or out of the notches. Moreover, the arm is urged to the left, asillustrated in FIG. 9, by a spring means 224 secured to a bent endportion 226 of arm 200 and a bent tab 228 on the support wall 209, tothereby urge the sleeve 214 of arm 200 into a selected one of therecesses 218-222.

In the operation of this embodiment, arm 200 and spindle 236 may bemoved to the upper position corresponding to notch 222 by moving lever252 to the right against the force of spring 224 until sleeve 2l4 clearsnotch 220, and then by mov' ing the lever upwardly until the sleeve 214is urged into notch 222 by the spring 224. In a similar manner the armcan be moved to a lowered position corresponding to notch 218.

While the above embodiments have been illustrated with an adjustinglever 52, 152 and 252, respectively, it should be understood that theadjusting lever may be eliminated completely and the spindle may be usedin lieu thereof to move the arm between its operative positions.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference topreferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variationsand modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of theinvention.

I claim:

1. In a motion picture projector adapted to project film wound on asupply reel rotatably contained with a cartridge, the combinationcomprising:

a projector housing adapted to interchangeably support a selected one ofa plurality of cartridges of different capacity on the projector, eachof such cartridges rotatably containing a supply reel having an axis ofrotation and corresponding in capacity to the capacity of the cartridge;

means on the housing for locating each of such cartridges and therespective reel contained therein on the projector with the axis ofrotation of the respective reel located relative to the projector at aposition dependent on the size of the reel;

a spindle for rotatably and interchangeably supporting reels on theprojector and within the cartridge;

means for driving said spindle, said driving means including l) a drivemember mounted on the housing for rotation about an axis and (2) meansdrivingly interconnecting said drive member and said spindle;

an elongated pivot member movably mounted on the pro jector andsupporting the spindle on the projector, said spindle being movable withsaid pivot member to any selected one of a plurality of positionscorresponding to the position of any selected one of the reel axes, saidpivot member being movable both angularly about and longitudinallyrelative to the axis of rotation of said drive member; and,

means on the projector and the pivot member for guiding movement of thepivot member and spindle along a path defined by the respective reelaxes.

2. A motion picture projector comprising:

a housing;

means on the housing adapted to locate cartridges of different sizes onthe housing, the cartridges containing a roll of film corresponding incapacity to the size of the cartridge, each of the sizes of cartridgesdefining an axis about which the film roll in the respective cartridgeis adapted to rotate wherein the axes of the different sizes ofcartridges define a locus of points;

a spindle for rotatably supporting the film roll on the projector and inthe cartridge;

means for driving said spindle, said driving means including l a drivemember mounted on the housing for rotation about an axis and (2) meansdrivingly interconnecting said drive member and said spindle;

an elongated member mounted on the housing for pivotal and longitudinalmovement about the axis of rotation of said drive member, said elongatedmember including means for supporting said spindle for pivotal andlongitudinal movement with said elongated member; and,

means for guiding movement of the member such that the spindle moveabletherewith will move along the locus of points defined by the axes of thecartridges.

3. A motion picture projector comprising:

a housing;

means on the housing adapted to locate cartridges of different sizes onthe housing, the cartridges containing a roll of film corresponding incapacity to the size of the cartridge, each of the sizes of cartridgesdefining an axis about which the film roll in the respective cartridgeis adapted to rotate wherein the axes of the different sizes ofcartridges define a locus of points;

a spindle for rotatably supporting on the projector the film roll in alocated cartridge;

an elongated member mounted on the housing for pivotal movement about anaxis;

means on said member for supporting said spindle at a location spacedfrom said axis;

means for guiding movement of said member such that the spindle moveabletherewith will move along the locus of oints defined by the axes of thecartridges; and,

detent means for positioning and supporting said members such that saidspindle is positively locatable and holdable in each of the pointsdefined by the positions of the axes of different sizes of cartridges,said detent means including (l at least one spaced recess on one of saidhousing or member, (2) a protrusion mounted on the other of said housingor member in alignment with said recess, and (3) means biasing saidprotrusion toward said one of said housing or member whereby engagementbetween said protrusion and said recess locates said spindle at one ofthe points defined by the positions of the axes of different sizes ofcartridges.

1. In a motion picture projector adapted to project film wound on asupply reel rotatably contained with a cartridge, the combinationcomprising: a projector housing adapted to interchangeably support aselected one of a plurality of cartridges of different capacity on theprojector, each of such cartridges rotatably containing a supply reelhaving an axis of rotation and corresponding in capacity to the capacityof the cartridge; means on the housing for locating each of suchcartridges and the respective reel contained therein on the projectorwith the axis of rotation of the respective reel located relative to theprojector at a position dependent on the size of the reel; a spindle forrotatably and interchangeably supporting reels on the projector andwithin the cartridge; means for driving said spindle, said driving meansincluding (1) a drive member mounted on the housing for rotation aboutan axis and (2) means drivingly interconnecting said drive member andsaid spindle; an elongated pivot member movably mounted on the projectorand supporting the spindle on the projector, said spindle being movablewith said pivot member to any selected one of a plurality of positionscorresponding to the position of any selected one of the reel axes, saidpivot member being movable both angularly about and longitudinallyrelative to the axis of rotation of said drive member; and, means on theprojector and the pivot member for guiding movement of the pivot memberand spindle along a path defined by the respective reel axes.
 2. Amotion picture projector comprising: a housing; means on the housingadapted to locate cartridges of different sizes on the housing, thecartridges containing a roll of film corresponding in capacity to thesize of the cartridge, each of the sizes of cartridges defining an axisabout which the film roll in the respective cartridge is adapted torotate wherein the axes of the different sizes of cartridges define alocus of points; a spindle for rotatably supporting the film roll on theprojector and in the cartridge; means for driving said spindle, saiddriving means including (1) a drive member mounted on the housing forrotation about an axis and (2) means drivingly interconnecting saiddrive member and said spindle; an elongated member mounted on thehousing for pivotal and longitudinal movement about the axis of rotationof said drive member, said elongated member including means forsupporting said spindle for pivotal and longitudinal movement with saidelongated member; and, means for guiding movement of the member suchthat the spindle moveable therewith will move along the locus of pointsdefined by the axes of the cartridges.
 3. A motion picture projectorcomprising: a housinG; means on the housing adapted to locate cartridgesof different sizes on the housing, the cartridges containing a roll offilm corresponding in capacity to the size of the cartridge, each of thesizes of cartridges defining an axis about which the film roll in therespective cartridge is adapted to rotate wherein the axes of thedifferent sizes of cartridges define a locus of points; a spindle forrotatably supporting on the projector the film roll in a locatedcartridge; an elongated member mounted on the housing for pivotalmovement about an axis; means on said member for supporting said spindleat a location spaced from said axis; means for guiding movement of saidmember such that the spindle moveable therewith will move along thelocus of points defined by the axes of the cartridges; and, detent meansfor positioning and supporting said members such that said spindle ispositively locatable and holdable in each of the points defined by thepositions of the axes of different sizes of cartridges, said detentmeans including (1) at least one spaced recess on one of said housing ormember, (2) a protrusion mounted on the other of said housing or memberin alignment with said recess, and (3) means biasing said protrusiontoward said one of said housing or member whereby engagement betweensaid protrusion and said recess locates said spindle at one of thepoints defined by the positions of the axes of different sizes ofcartridges.